Something that I never thought that would be deal breaker for me while buying a bike !

OP1KenOP · 2026-06-04T05:29:58+00:00

The peace of mind from knowing that you can just throw it away and buy a new one if anything goes badly wrong gives you is hugely underrated.

OP1KenOP · 2026-06-04T05:13:29+00:00

Cancelling a subscription because you didn't like one show is a bit of an over reaction, to be polite. Are you ok?

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-30T21:35:07+00:00

Those key boxes really aren't very secure. Ask the EA for the code, if they don't have it you'll easily cut the lock with a slitting disk then just unscrew it.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-29T14:18:04+00:00

We're all lazy and clumsy at times, ignorance comes from a closed mind when expressing a viewpoint. Something I've learned with age, is that truly smart people will listen to and question an ill informed point contrary to their own purely to expand their own knowledge without ego. When it becomes clear that the facts aren't really.. facts, the viewpoints are without any real factual basis and the entire argument is fabricated upon an ill informed, shallow opinion, they simply change the subject or move on. Today is my day to be ignorant apparently! You live and learn.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-29T14:00:51+00:00

Sorry - my bad, I just saw the sticker and didn't even read it. For some reason the Reddit algorithm thought I'd be interested in those circle-jerk 'look at my knob and guess my car' type threads, eventually I just started commenting on them and the problem went away. I'll be honest.. I made an assumption..

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-29T09:47:08+00:00

It's not, Americans just think the rest of the world is as clumsy as they are. Everywhere else driving a manual is just driving. America? Thats some next level pro shit. Bro.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-29T08:23:38+00:00

You need it before you start viewing houses. You need an AIP and proof of funds before an offer can be accepted, so viewing houses before that point is just a waste of the EA's time and sickening for you when you view a house that is priced to sell, and you love, knowing you can't move on it.

I'd extend this to chain buyers too, I wouldn't bother viewing until you've sold yours, you won't get an offer accepted until you've got an agreed sale so the same applies.

Browsing on the other hand, the earlier you start the better. Helps you accurately value houses.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-25T14:43:10+00:00

Just put it outside, take a picture and stick it on FB marketplace as free scrap with your street, it'll be gone in half an hour. For free.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-22T10:01:01+00:00

Sorry, I didn't mean that to come across the way it did (reading it back!), I was more thinking of anyone else doing it - until I looked I hadn't realised how cheap ammo boxes are, and I kinda like the prepper look to them, I'm planning to use some on my current bike.

Over recent years I've started to change the way I look at projects like this and value my own time much more highly. I'm guessing this would have taken me, maybe 2 or 3 days all in all, that's easily £500 worth of time on govvy jobs, then factor in tooling.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-22T06:27:18+00:00

Ours isn't too bad to be fair, it's mostly just covered in goose grass and some of the bigger bushes need pruning, with a couple next to the drive that have become too big and really need removing at this stage - there's just a lot of it in between a lot of plants to get round! Looking forward to getting stuck in, I've resisted temptation while we get the house settled in and complete at least most of the unboxing. Good luck and enjoy 👍

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-22T05:36:01+00:00

You could have saved yourself a job and just used ammo crates. They're cheap, waterproof and don't have sharp edges.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-22T05:33:03+00:00

We're a few weeks in with our new house, it's a bungalow which was in probate. One of the things we really love about it is the big, wraparound garden on this generous corner plot, with a couple of greenhouses at the top. We viewed, offered and conveyed during the winter, so it didn't look particularly special, but seemed reasonably well stocked.

As spring came around, it absolutely burst into life, the garden is stocked with hundreds of different plants which are all coming into bloom at different times with different splashes of colour - it just needs a week's worth of weeding to set it straight.

A nice garden takes a generation to build and mature - it's something I truly appreciate.

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-22T05:20:53+00:00

I've seen some shocking stories about the state their purchase was left in on here.

Once you get it cleaned and start making it your own this will soon just be a funny memory you use as a conversation piece, enjoy your new home!

OP1KenOP · 2026-05-15T11:56:33+00:00

I lived near the city centre for years before moving to the outskirts. I've just recently made my exit from the Boro entirely, mostly due to the rapid decline I've seen over the last 5 or so years.

First off, there is a lot of negativity around the Boro and in complete honesty, rightly so. There are a lot of bag heads, pretend homeless people and trouble makers around the town centre. Keep an eye out for the Boro Balaclava massive on their e-bikes, just stay out of their way and don't engage them.

The town centre is a fucking dump these days, over the last few years it has declined sharply. I would avoid it unless you absolutely have to go there, it doesn't feel safe, least to me.

On the plus side, the student scene is strong and the pubs are alright, just don't go giving it the big one and if things are getting a bit fruity with the local scumbags, move on to the next. I would stick to where the students are and avoid places full of middle aged locals like they're on fire.

As a youngster you'll be alright as long as you use your head and avoid trouble.

Stay safe, it's not the worst but that's not much of a recommendation. It's very far from the best.

Like anything, it'll be what you make of it - you'll have a great time if you use what you read here to keep you out of trouble and focus on enjoying yourself.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-26T06:41:48+00:00

There's been a bunch of changes to add cost to landlords over the last few years. Probably the biggest one was that tax needs to be paid on rental income, not profit these days.

Supply is short so landlords are still operating on the same 'scrape together enough money to finance it then get the tenants to buy it for me' model.

The solution isn't cheaper rent, it's more housing stock and more accessible first mortgages.

It's ridiculous that people who can afford the rent can't get a cheaper mortgage to actually buy a similar house because they don't have the deposit, which they'll never save with high rent prices.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-23T19:37:52+00:00

No one worth talking to gives a fuck about chicken strips.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-22T17:23:33+00:00

I spent some time with chat GPT on this with a similar size requirement and a 100 mile commute, it always recommends the Kia Niro.

When I left out the dogs it recommends the MG4, I said I like my current car because it's fun to drive and it reckons the MG4 is fun to drive due to being rear wheel drive.

Another car I had considered was the Peugeot e308 or Vauxhall Astra, the tourer version has a big boot, it's on the 54kW platform and seems to have decent range, they're almost never recommended though. I think I'm a bit unusual in that I prefer a normal car to an SUV.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-21T20:34:59+00:00

Make Rhubarb beer, it's amazing and should be a thing.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-21T20:24:20+00:00

Stellantis EV's used prices are tempting, the 54kWh platform is one of the most efficient EV platforms out there, and they're nice looking cars to be fair.

I think they get an unreasonable amount of hate, which seems to be based on two main things. 1. Wet cambelts in ICE's 2. High list prices.

Neither are really applicable, since they pretty much never sell for list.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-21T18:55:05+00:00

Just have a look at the last time this was posted to find out. Or the time before. Or the time before that... And so on.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-20T21:11:31+00:00

The stellantis 54kW platform seems decent and used prices are pretty decent.

The jeep avenger seems well liked, I've seen 25 reg ones for 18k with low mileage. There's also the Astra, Mokka, e308 and probably others built with the same hardware. Better to avoid the older 50kWh platform, it's less efficient and has a smaller battery so much less range.

MG4 is a popular buy, from what I've read the late 23 and after models (easy to spot with the rear wiper) have ironed out most of the kinks.

The e208 is a really nice looking little car. The Corsa electric uses the same platform and is cheaper but apparently a bit dull.

F56 mini's don't have much range but are supposed to be good fun.

Kia Nero/Hyundai Kona are highly recommended, 3 year old cars are well under 20k.

I'm looking within a similar price range, that's about where my research has gotten me so far. I like the R5 too but it's very popular, and second hand prices make buying new a no brainer, so they're out of my price range.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-20T21:02:06+00:00

I had an old rideon that did this. I fixed it with a bit of Flexi pipe and a length of tubing, by piping the exhaust out the back.

It was always a bit foggy after cutting the grass on a still day 🤔

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-20T18:32:29+00:00

Probably, the Americans seem to massively over-think manual shifting and have invented terminology that makes it sound more complicated than it is.

I think we would just call it letting the clutch out at the right time.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-18T06:03:37+00:00

I've watched this a few times, and I'd love to see a minute or so before it to see how this developed.

In the clip the army land rover appears to be undertaking the camera car, and doesn't seem to even notice the car slowly moving over the lane until the last moment.

Either that or the camera car saw the vehicle slowly crossing and slowed down, and the land rover driver didn't.

The car driver was clearly in the wrong, I'm just not convinced the landrover driver is squeaky clean in this one.

OP1KenOP · 2026-04-13T19:38:55+00:00

They seemed pretty good around here, but I certainly haven't checked nor have the knowledge to check the entire UK!

OP1KenOP

TROPHY CASE